NEW DELHI, Feb. 1 -- The government will push indigenous manufacturing of seaplanes as part of a broader effort to boost tourism and strengthen regional air connectivity, it said in the Union Budget 2026-27. A viability gap funding (VGF) scheme will also be introduced to support seaplane operations.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech on Sunday said, "In order to promote tourism we will also push for indigenous manufacturing of sea planes.I propose to give incentives to indigenized manufacturing of sea planes. A VGF scheme will also be introduced to provide support for operations."

Seaplanes are typically classified as small aircraft with seating capacities of about 9 to 30 passengers. Detailed guidelines for the in...